The phantom beast lunged toward Vieran, but his reflexes had sharpened, too. He twisted just in time, dodging the beast's outstretched claws with a surge of adrenaline.

Gripping his pickaxe in one hand, he swung toward the creature. Yet before the strike could land, the appendage on the beast’s forehead whipped forward, catching his arm mid-swing and lifting him off the ground. With a sudden, brutal force, the beast slammed him back down, leaving Vieran gasping, his spine throbbing. He bit back the pain, not allowing himself to be slowed. With a fierce roar, he lashed out, slashing at the creature's appendage with his dagger. The blade connected, but the appendage was elastic, resisting the cut.

The beast roared in rage and barreled toward him again. As it neared, Vieran tried to block, but claws raked across his forearms, leaving stinging wounds. He let out a strangled cry, frustration and self-doubt bubbling up. "I should’ve been better prepared for this," he cursed under his breath. But his anger redirected—he hated this beast even more than his own inexperience.

Vieran slashed wildly, managing to sever a few of the creature's fingers. The beast recoiled, shrieking in pain. Seizing the moment, he dropped low, stabbing the beast’s foot repeatedly. As it dropped to one knee, he thrust his dagger toward its head. But the creature reacted in an instant, snapping its jaws over his arm.

Pain shot through him, but he gritted his teeth, sensing an opportunity. He twisted his trapped arm within the beast’s mouth, angling the dagger, and with a final thrust, pierced the creature’s head from within. The light in the beast's eyes dimmed, and it collapsed, lifeless, at his feet.

As the beast’s form disintegrated into wisps of dark mist, its silhouette faded until it vanished completely into the black air. Vieran staggered, quickly swallowing a healing pill, followed by a nutrition pill to replenish his strength. The familiar warmth of the medicine spread through him, numbing some of his wounds and easing his battered body.

But as his injuries faded, tears welled up and spilled over. For the first time in his eighteen years, he was surviving on his own, truly alone. He’d always found safety in numbers, joining communities for a sense of belonging and security. Now, there was only silence, and the isolation was overwhelming.

The solitude weighed on him like a stone. He was tired—tired of the constant struggle, the relentless battles, and the endless loneliness. Looking down at his dwindling supplies, he felt the despair deepen; fighting these phantom beasts meant risking everything he had left. His gaze drifted to the dagger in his hand, his grip tightening as he considered the thought creeping into his mind.

Maybe this was a way out. If he let go, he wouldn’t have to fight, wouldn’t have to feel this emptiness gnawing at him. Happiness? What did it even mean? In his short life, he’d never truly felt it.

Vieran slowly raised the dagger to his neck, his hands trembling as he wrestled with despair. A broken sob escaped him, and he hesitated, squeezing his eyes shut. But then, a glint on the ground caught his eye. He lowered the blade, blinking through his tears to see two objects lying in the place where the beast had vanished.

One was a purified phantom core, its faint glow pulsing with quiet energy. The other was a shining cube, its edges casting a soft, hopeful light even through the thick mist. Overcome, he dropped the dagger, his hands reaching for the items as he let the tears fall freely. He cradled them in his palms, taking in the warmth and power that radiated from the core.

He had been lucky again. Against all odds, the beast had left behind not just one item but two, and one of them was the rarest prize he could have hoped for. A purified phantom core. The thought made his chest ache with a fragile sense of wonder. He deserved this. He’d fought and endured, and he’d been granted this moment of fortune.

Maybe... the world was telling him to keep going, to survive a little longer. Maybe he was meant to find some meaning in his life, after all.

Vieran took a steadying breath and wiped his eyes, setting his resolve. He stretched out his hand, summoning a faintly glowing magic circle at his feet. Its intricate symbols and lines pulsed with energy, illuminating the misty darkness around him. Gently, he placed the purified phantom core and the shining cube onto the circle. The symbols responded, flaring brighter as the circle began to absorb the items, their essence merging with his own.

A soft chime echoed in his mind as a system message appeared.

[Your blueprint progress has increased by ten percent]

[You have gained a new trait: Endurance]

[You have gained a new trait: Vitalumen Control]

[You have gained a new factor: Item Purification]

[Name: Vieran Voss

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Tier: 1-B

Circuit: Lightfinder (30%)

Factors: Item Purification

Traits: Strength, Stamina, Satiety, Speed, Vitalumen Control, Endurance

Vitalumen: 81%

Nox: 19%]

Vieran let out a sudden laugh, a mix of relief and irony in his voice. The thought of finally gaining a new factor filled him with a blend of happiness and frustration. How many times had he tried to learn something on his own, only to stumble? And yet here it was—[Item Purification], a factor he hadn’t even been aiming for, gifted to him by sheer luck.

Still, he was grateful. Even if it wasn’t what he’d targeted, the discovery felt like a small victory. The knowledge of how to use the ability came naturally, almost instinctively, as though it had always been a part of him. Yet he couldn’t resist the urge to check the details.

He summoned the system window, and his gaze sharpened as he read the description for [Item Purification].

[Name: Item Purification

Description: With this trait, the user channels their Vitalumen to cleanse items dropped by phantom beasts.]

As Vieran read the description, he finally understood why he’d gained the trait [Vitalumen Control]. The use of a factor like [Item Purification] demanded the consumption of Vitalumen, something he hadn’t fully grasped before. But as luck would have it, the luxury ingredients he’d absorbed earlier must have paved the way, granting him this crucial control.

A sense of relief settled over him as he thought back on the changes he’d noticed. Along with gaining new traits, he’d also felt his Nox levels drop dramatically. The usual, gnawing worry of succumbing to phantom corruption eased, allowing him a rare moment to breathe freely. For now, at least, the transformation threat was at bay.

Vieran took a deep, steadying breath as he looked down at his hands, the faint glow of Vitalumen still lingering in his veins. He could survive—he had to believe that now. The new abilities, the purified items, and even the drop in his Nox levels were signs that he still had a fighting chance. Each bit of progress, however small, was proof that he was capable of pushing through the darkness.

With his mind set, he found a quiet place to sit and eased himself onto the ground. There was nothing to do now but wait for the morning. Closing his eyes, he began to meditate, focusing on the pulse of his Vitalumen, letting it flow through him in a calming rhythm. The quiet hum of energy filled the stillness around him, a reminder that he wasn’t alone in this battle. As the hours passed, he held onto that feeling, steadying himself for whatever awaited him with the coming dawn.

The morning came, but the world remained shrouded in thick black mist, swallowing every hint of daylight. Vieran glanced down at his lantern, his heart sinking as he noticed its light dimming, the sphere of protection it cast around him shrinking with each passing second. Then, through the dense fog, a faint light broke through—a single luminorb drifting toward him, a stream of pure, radiant energy piercing the darkness.

Vieran’s breath caught. He’d been waiting for this. With careful hands, he placed the lantern over his chest, aligning it with the path of the luminorb. The luminorb floated through the lantern, leaving behind a glowing shard that nestled within. Instantly, the lantern flared to life, its light blazing brighter than before, casting warmth and security around him. He exhaled, relieved. This glowshard would keep the relentless mist at bay, at least for a while.

As the luminorb’s remaining light seeped into his body, warmth filled him, infusing his bones with strength. He caught a glimpse of the path the luminorb had taken, a brief trail of shimmering light cutting through the mist. Though the dark fog soon swallowed it, he knew now where the cluster of luminorbs lay ahead.

But he wouldn’t follow that path. He understood that where the luminorb traveled, phantom beasts inevitably gathered, drawn by its trail. To go that way would be to invite danger, and he wasn’t ready for an onslaught. That was why the ability to see these light trails was essential in navigating this world, and though he couldn’t prove the reason, he knew it was possible. He just needed time to learn it, to gain control. For now, he would stay cautious, conserving his strength as he prepared for whatever lay ahead.

Vieran’s gaze shifted to the worn crates, scanning each one for anything he might have overlooked. But after a thorough check, he knew there was nothing more he could take with him. His supplies were sparse yet essential: the glowshard lantern hanging by his side, a sturdy pickaxe, a well-worn dagger, and a sling bag holding nutrition pills, healing pills, and a large pouch of water. It was a meager assortment, but it would have to do.

The nutrition pills would last him a month if he could avoid any further injuries, but the water was another matter entirely. His supply wouldn’t carry him far. That alone made the journey necessary. With his recent gains—[Item Purification] and newfound endurance—he felt a sense of renewed confidence. He had the strength to press on, and he was determined to survive.

With a final glance at his makeshift shelter, Vieran stepped forward. The light sphere from the glowshard lantern responded, brightening as it moved with him, casting its warm glow around in a small, protective radius. Step by step, he ventured into the unknown, each footfall swallowed by the dark mist beyond his lantern’s reach. The path ahead lay uncertain, but he gripped his gear with determination, ready to face whatever lay beyond the fog.

Vieran adjusted his path, setting his course at a cautious 45-degree angle away from the direction the luminorb had traveled. His ultimate destination was still the cluster of luminorbs; he hoped there might be humans there, or at least a haven of sorts. Even if it was empty of people, he knew that luminorbs tended to gather in areas that were safer and more stable. With luck, he might even find a fresh water source nearby, one that could extend his chances of survival.

The thought of reaching a cluster bolstered him. A collection of luminorbs would be far more valuable than the single shard he carried now, their combined light enough to keep the oppressive mist at bay. His journey would become more bearable, with less chance of being ambushed by lurking phantom beasts.

With steady breaths, he pushed forward, his glowshard lantern casting a small, reassuring light that rippled through the thick fog. Every step took him deeper into the unknown, but with each stride, he felt a flicker of hope, the possibility of finding safety, or perhaps even allies. The path ahead remained cloaked in darkness, but Vieran’s resolve only grew stronger. He would reach that cluster, one way or another.